Kalanchoe plant named ‘Don Nando’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Kalanchoe  plant named ‘Don Nando’, characterized by its upright, uniform and vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; dark green-colored leaves; uniform and freely flowering habit; double pink-colored flowers; and excellent postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Kalanchoe blossfeldiana.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DON NANDO’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofKalanchoe plant, botanically known as Kalanchoe blossfeldiana andhereinafter referred to by the name ‘Don Nando’.

The new Kalanchoe plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Naaldwijk, The Netherlands. The objectiveof the breeding program is to create new double-flowered Kalanchoeplants with attractive foliage and flower coloration.

The new Kalanchoe plant originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor in Naaldwijk, The Netherlands in May, 2007, of a proprietaryselection of Kalanchoe blossfeldiana identified as code number20051445-001, not patented, as the female, or seed parent with aproprietary selection of Kalanchoe blossfeldiana identified as codenumber 20061286-001, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. Thenew Kalanchoe plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as aflowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollinationin a controlled greenhouse environment in Naaldwijk, The Netherlands inMarch, 2008.

Asexual reproduction of the new Kalanchoe plant by vegetative terminalcuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Naaldwijk, TheNetherlands since September, 2008 has shown that the unique features ofthis new Kalanchoe plant are stable and reproduced true to type insuccessive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Kalanchoe have not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may varysomewhat with variations in environmental conditions such astemperature, daylength and light intensity without, however, anyvariance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Don Nando’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Don Nando’ as a new and distinct Kalanchoeplant:

-   -   1. Upright, uniform and vigorous growth habit.    -   2. Freely branching habit.    -   3. Dark green-colored leaves.    -   4. Uniform and freely flowering habit.    -   5. Double pink-colored flowers.    -   6. Excellent postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Kalanchoe can be compared to plants of the femaleparent selection. Plants of the new Kalanchoe differ primarily fromplants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Kalanchoe are smaller than plants of the        female parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Kalanchoe are more freely branching than        plants of the female parent selection.    -   3. Plants of the new Kalanchoe have smaller leaves than plants        of the female parent selection.    -   4. Plants of the new Kalanchoe and the female parent selection        differ in flower color as plants of the female parent selection        have reddish pink-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Kalanchoe can also be compared to plants of the maleparent selection. Plants of the new Kalanchoe differ from plants of themale parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Kalanchoe are smaller than plants of the        male parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Kalanchoe are more freely branching than        plants of the male parent selection.    -   3. Plants of the new Kalanchoe have smaller leaves than plants        of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Kalanchoe can be compared to plants of the Kalanchoeblossfeldiana ‘Don Juan’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,576. Inside-by-side comparisons conducted in Naaldwijk, The Netherlands, plantsof the new Kalanchoe differed from plants of ‘Don Juan’ in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Kalanchoe were more compact than plants of        ‘Don Juan’.    -   2. Plants of the new Kalanchoe had smaller leaves than plants of        ‘Don Juan’.    -   3. Plants of the new Kalanchoe and ‘Don Juan’ differed in flower        color as plants of ‘Don Juan’ were red in color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Kalanchoe plant showing the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color valuescited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describethe colors of the new Kalanchoe plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of atypical flowering plant of ‘Don Nando’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet are close-up views of a typicalflower (top), a typical inflorescence (center) and the upper and lowersurfaces of typical leaves (bottom).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown during the summer in 12-cm containersin a glass-covered greenhouse in Naaldwijk, The Netherlands and underconditions which closely approximate commercial Kalanchoe production.During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 20° C.to 30° C., night temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 25° C. and lightlevels ranged from 5 to 60 kilolux. Plants received long day/short nightconditions (more than 14 hours of light) for about four weeks; plantsthen received photoinductive short day/long night conditions (minimum 14hours darkness) until flowering. Plants were 13 weeks old when thephotographs and the description were taken. In the detailed description,color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Kalanchoe blossfeldiana ‘Don Nando’.-   parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Kalanchoe            blossfeldiana identified as code number 20051445-001, not            patented.        -   Male or pollen parent.—Proprietary selection of Kalanchoe            blossfeldiana identified as code number 20061286-001, not            patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About ten days at            temperatures of 21° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About two weeks at            temperatures of 21° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three            weeks at temperatures of 21° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four            weeks at temperatures of 21° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant habit.—Upright, uniform and moderately vigorous growth            habit with rounded crown; freely flowering with numerous            compound cymes; appropriate for 12-cm and larger containers.        -   Plant height at flowering.—About 19.4 cm.        -   Plant diameter at flowering.—About 24.1 cm.-   Lateral branch description:    -   -   Branching habit.—Freely branching habit; usually about eight            lateral branches develop per plant.        -   Length.—About 5.2 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 4 mm.        -   Internode length.—About 1.1 cm.        -   Aspect.—Erect.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Color.—Close to 144A.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple; generally symmetrical.        -   Length, generative plants.—About 9.8 cm.        -   Width, generative plants.—About 5.6 cm.        -   Shape.—Ovate.        -   Apex.—Rounded acute.        -   Base.—Cuneate.        -   Margin.—Coarsely crenate.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Glabrous, leathery;            succulent.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; reticulate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to between            137A and 143A. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to            137C. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to between            N137D and 147A; venation, close to 143B. Fully expanded            leaves, lower surface: Close to between 138A and 146A;            venation, close to 144B.        -   Petiole.—Length: About 1.7 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,            upper and lower surfaces: Close to 143B.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Double flowers arranged singly            in compound dichasial cymes arising from leaf axils; uniform            and freely flowering habit with usually about 50 flowers            developing per inflorescence.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants of the new Kalanchoe            initiate and develop flowers during the late            autumn/winter/early spring; flower initiation and            development can also be induced under artificial short            day/long night conditions (at least 14 hours of darkness);            plants will flower from spring into the autumn in the            garden.        -   Time to flower.—Under short day/long night photoinductive            conditions, about 60 days are required.        -   Post-production longevity.—Excellent post-production            longevity; flowers maintain good substance for about seven            weeks under interior environmental conditions; individual            flowers last about ten days on the plant; flowers            persistent.        -   Inflorescence height.—About 10.5 cm.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 7 cm.        -   Flower diameter.—About 2 cm.        -   Flower length (height).—About 1.6 cm.        -   Flower bud.—Length: About 9 mm. Diameter: About 6 mm. Shape:            Obovate. Color: Close to 143B; towards the apex, close to            145B flushed with close to 65C.        -   Petals.—Quantity and arrangement: About 27 fused at the base            in several whorls. Length: About 1.7 cm to 1.9 cm. Width:            About 5 mm. Shape: Narrowly obovate to obovate. Apex:            Abruptly acute. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower            surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; somewhat velvety.        -   Color.—When opening, upper surface: Close to 63C; towards            the base, close to 145B. When opening, lower surface: Close            to 65C; towards the base, close to 145B. Fully opened, upper            surface: Close to N66C; towards the base, close to 145B;            color does not fade with development. Fully opened, lower            surface: Close to 63C; towards the base, close to 145B.        -   Sepals.—Quantity and appearance: Three, fused at the base.            Length: About 8 mm. Width: About 2 mm. Shape: Lanceolate.            Apex: Narrowly acute. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and            lower surfaces: Smooth; glabrous. Color: Immature, upper and            lower surfaces: Close to 143B. Mature, upper and lower            surfaces: Close to 143C.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 7 cm. Diameter: About 3.5 mm.            Aspect: Mostly erect. Strength: Moderately strong. Texture:            Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 143B.        -   Pedicels.—Length: About 5 mm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm.            Aspect: Erect to about 45° from vertical. Strength:            Moderately strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close            to 143B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen number: About ten            per flower. Filament length: About 2 mm. Filament color:            Close to 63C. Anther length: About 0.4 mm. Anther shape:            Oblong. Anther color: Close to 152B. Amount of pollen:            Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 11A. Gynoecium: Pistil            number: About five per flower. Pistil length: About 2 mm.            Style length: About 1.5 mm. Style color: Close to 145C.            Stigma shape: Club-shaped. Stigma color: Close to 153C.            Ovary color: Close to 145B to 145C.        -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit development has not been            observed on plants of the new Kalanchoe.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Kalanchoe have been    observed to tolerate temperatures from about 5° C. to about 35° C.-   Pathogen/pest resistance: Plants of the new Kalanchoe have not been    observed to be resistant to pests and pathogens common to    Kalanchoes.

1. A new and distinct Kalanchoe plant named ‘Don Nando’ as illustratedand described.